The Future Homes Standard (FHS) consultation is here and while the consultation itself seems at first glance to be relatively straightforward, the whole thing is, in fact, an absolute beast.  Why?  Because at the same time as issuing the FHS consultation, the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) also dropped consultations on its plans for a wholesale ..read more

A Review of The FHS 'Wrapper' for the Home Energy Model The Future Homes Standard (FHS) consultation includes proposals for a wholesale revision to the underpinning calculation method by which the energy efficiency of new homes is evaluated.I have already written about the Home Energy Model (HEM) in an earlier blog.  It is planned that this will replace the Standard Assessment Protocol ..read more

 An Assessment of the Solar Energy Calculation in the Home Energy ModelThe HEM introduces a new variable - the degree of ventilation of the solar panelsAs part of its consultation on the Future Homes Standard, UK Government has revealed details of its proposed replacement of the associated energy calculator.  You can read more about the new 'Home Energy Model' in my earlier blog on the ..read more

 Alongside its consultation on the Future Homes Standard building regulations, the government has revealed sweeping changes to the calculation underpinning Part L of the building regulations (Conservation of Fuel and Power), and launched a consultation on the new approach. The StandardAssessment Procedure (SAP) has been the government approved methodology to estimate the energy ..read more

 Linn Way, Garelochhead - a Passivhaus Development of 10 homes by Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA) On 15th December 2022, Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenant's Rights (there's a job title for you), wrote to Alex Rowley, a member of the Scottish Parliament to inform him that his campaign for new homes in Scotland to be built to Passivhaus ..read more

Housebuilders in England will soon be fitting EV chargers to new homes, how do the new rules work and what is happening in the other home nations?How the New Rules Work in EnglandIn December 2021, the government published Approved Document S, a new part of the Building Regulations that apply in England.  The new regulations require developers to fit Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points when ..read more

In June 2022 the Scottish Government published its consultation response on changes to further tighten the Building Regulations for energy efficiency.  New developments in Scotland seeking a Building Warrant after 1 December 2022, will need to meet the new regulations.Although most respondents to the consultation were in support of a higher performance target (delivering a 57% reduction in CO2 ..read more

 Longest Distance Darts Bullseye World Record Attempt (youtube video) If you're looking to break the record for the longest distance bullseye on a dartboard how do you do it?  You throw lots of darts.Solar is a very safe technology.  It's less dangerous than a toaster or a tumble dryer (see my earlier blog putting solar risks into context).  But just like when trying to hit the bullseye, the more ..read more

Dutch Householders Must Now Include Renewables When Making Major Home ImprovementsImage (C) Viridian SolarUK energy efficiency laws have been made for new homes and new commercial buildings, for houses owned by private landlords (in England) and those managed by Social Housing  Providers (in Scotland), but the biggest part of the building stock has so far sailed on without interference from ..read more

Imagine you've just got home with this season's must-have kitchen appliance - perhaps the Nostalgia Pop-up Hot Dog Toaster ("why boil water when you can  toast?")You can almost taste those delicious toasted hot dogs as you unpack your new purchase but you notice a warning label attached to its power cable:  "Do not cross-mate this plug with sockets of another manufacturer's brand."  When you ..read more